Pen.



No. ($77,944. Patented July 9, I90l.

J. H. COLEMAN.

PEN.

(Applicafion filed June 28, 1900.)

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JOSEPH H. COLEMAN, OF BEARDSTOWVN, ILLINOIS.

PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 677,944, dated July 9, 1901. Application filed June 28,1900. Serial No. 2 1,913. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beardstown, in the county of Cass and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pens; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in'the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Accountants and others using the ordinary pen for ruling, in conjunction with a directing edge, as that of a ruler, are familiar with the blotting and smear generally attending the operation. This invention aims to combine with an ordinary writing-pen a guard to bear against the edge of the ruler and hold the pen-point at a safe distance therefrom, so

as to obviate the usual result. This guard is slidably mounted with reference to the pen, so as to be moved out of the way when not required for ruling.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the appended description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary writing pen having the guard fitted thereto and showing the manner of operation. Fig, 2 is a detail view showing the operation of inking the pen-point. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the guard drawn back out of the way as when using the pen in the ordinary way for writing. Fig. 4 is a transverse section. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the guard. 7

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The pen in its general construction comprises a holder 1, handle 2, and pen-point 3, the latter being secured was holder preferably by means of a clip 4, located therein.

Combined with-the pen and slidably mount ed with reference thereto'is a guard 5, hav ing its upper end attached to the holder in any convenient way, and, as shown, a sleeve 6 is formed therewith and telescopes with the holder.

pering and somewhat blunt, so as to glide easily over the paper during the ruling operation should the pen be held at such an angle as to bring the point of the guard in contact with the paper. A longitudinal slot 7 is formed in the sleeve 6 and receives a pin 8, projecting laterally from the holder, the said pin forming a stop and cooperating with the slot'to direct the guard in its movements and insure a proper positioning thereof with reference to the pen-point, so that the guard when lowered or projected into operative po-' sition will come opposite the side of the penpoint, so as to bear against the directing edge of the ruler 9 or other means resorted to for guiding the pen when ruling. Any directing means the substantial equivalent of the pin 8 and slot 7 may be resorted to for properly positioning the guard and limiting the movements thereof and prevent its disengagement from the pen. By having the guard and sleeve constructed in the manner shown no incom venience is experienced by the user when grasping the pen for writing, since the sleeve 6 comes above the points of contact of the thumb and fingers with the holder and the guard 5 comes opposite the space between the thumb and index-finger when the pen is properly grasped. While the presence of the guard does not interfere with the free use of the pen, yet when not required for ruling the guard is held elevated by means of the fingers. This is not essential although preferable, since a close tit between the sleeve and holder will insure a support of the guard at any desired position. By having the guard mounted so as to run loosely upon the holder itwill slide up out of the way when dipping the pen into the ink-bottle, and when withp The guard 5 is located at one side of the pen-point and its lower end is made tadrawing the pen from the ink-Well the guard will slide into position, thereby obviating the positive actuation of the guard each time the pen-point is supplied with ink.

While the primary purpose of the pin 8 is sweet to direct the guard in its movements and properly position it with reference to the penpoint, advantage is taken to utilize it for securing the clip 4:, handle 2, and holder 1 together, so as to prevent accidental displacement of these parts. The pin 8 bypreference is located at the same side of the pen with the guard 5, so as not to interfere with the proper grasping of the pen when in use.

As previously stated, the guard is by preference loosely mounted upon the holder, so as to slide freely thereon. As a consequence of this construction the guard5 is at all times projected, and when dipping the pen-point in an ink-well for a supply of writing fluid the guard will likewise be inked if no provision is had to hold it out of the way when dipping the pen. For this purpose the ink-well 10 is provided with an attachment consisting of a cover 1], having an opening through which the pen is thrust, said opening being surrounded by a vertical collar or flange 12, which is adapted to engage the point of the guard 5 and prevent its entrance into the inkwell. The opening in the cover is just large enough to permit the passage of the holder and prevent the holder and guard passing therethrough. lVhen dipping the pen in the ink-Well, the point of the guard5 will engage over the collar or flange 12 and prevent its entrance into the ink.

In practice when it is required to draw lines the guard is projected about as shown in Fig. 1 and bears against the edge of the ruler 9 and holds the point of the pen away from said edge and prevents the blot and smear generally attendant upon ruling with the ordinary pen unless exceeding care is exercised or the person is an adept in the handling of the pen for this purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is' In combination with a pen-holder, a sleeve freely slidable thereon and held in working position by gravitative action and having a longitudinal slot and an integral extension in line with one side to form a guard which tapers to a blunt point, and a pin letinto a side of the holder and projecting into the slot of the sleeve to guide and limit it in its longitudinal movements and to prevent its displacement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH II. COLEMAN. [L. s.]'

\Vitnesses:

JAMES S. MINT R, J OSEPH T. RAYCRAFT. 

